Member-only story
To Like Yourself More, Try Being Curious First
The answer to self-hate is not self-love…
I like most people I meet. Also, I know you’re a reader so we have something in common already! I like people; people are fascinating. I like all our quirks, the weird things we love and hate. I like finding commonalities that link us and exploring those that differentiate us. Maybe it’s because I’m a writer (everyone you meet is a potential character!) but in my experience most people are great, regardless of the ways they’re not.
But it matters very little if I like you.
I’m some random writer living way over here in New Zealand — we’ll probably never meet. What matters is if YOU like you.
Your self-hate is showing
A large number of us don’t like ourselves much. I know this because our self-dislike fuels quite a few industries. Millions are spent on weight loss programs to change our bodies (over $165,000,000 per day in the US!). Thousands more are spent buying self-development books and courses to change our undesirable inner selves. Then there’s the makeup and beauty industry — I’m sure you’ve heard how well that’s going.
We’re hyper-focused on what we dislike about ourselves. Does that mean I’m going to tell you to “just love yourself” or other some…
